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A PLEA FOR HARDY PLANTS 



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KALMIA LATIFOLIA 



A PLEA FOR HARDY 
PLANTS 



Uttlt g'ugijrsttnnB fnr 
lEffrrttln* ArrauniMitrnt 



"By J. WILKINSON ELLIOTT 

(Landscape Architect) 



Reprinted from the 

Transactions of the \Lassachusetts Horticultural Society. Part I, 1895 

With Additional Plans and Copious Illustrations 

BY J. Horace McFarland and Others 



/ 




New York: 1902 
DOUBLEDAY, PAGE & COMPANY 



THE LIBRARY OF 
lONRRESS, 

"'•■if^ C<iPltd RECSfVEO 



OCT. e 



COPY B. 



COPYRIGHT 11)02 

BY 

J. irlLKlKSOy ELLIOTT 






J. Horace McFarland Company 
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 




7.^PA^'ESE CRAB APPLE 




INTRODUCTION 



HIS book has not been written to teach the art of 
landscape gardening, but the need of it. The stu- 
dent of landscape gardening will find many excel- 
lent books on the subject, but the public hardly 
knows that there is such an art, and that good gar- 
dens and grounds, like good houses, are always the 
result of intelligent study and design. 

The annual expenditure for suburban and country 
homes is enormous, and while an architect is always 
employed to design and plan the house, with but iew 
exceptions the treatment of the grounds is intrusted 
to the nearest t\vo-dollar-a-day jobbing gardener, or 
the owner is his own landscape gardener. The result 
is always unsatisfactory, although often the expendi- 
ture would have secured most beautiful effects if 
directed by skilled advice. The folly of this is more 
apparent when it is considered that fully fifty per cent 
of the cost of the better class of houses is expended with the desire of 
producing beauty; one dollar intelligently spent on the grounds will 
afford more beauty than will ten spent on the house, and the attractive- 
ness of the house is greatly enhanced by the beauty and fitness of the 
grounds. I have endeavored to show this by good pictures rather than 
with much writing. j WILKINSON ELLIOTT 

Pitlshurg, September lo, jgoJ 




RHODODESDRO.V ALBUM GRASDIFLORUM 



A PLEA FOR HARDY PLANTS 

T must be remembered that my experience has been with a 
more western civilization, and some of my remarks may not 
have much force addressed to so enlightened a gardening 
community as that of Boston and its suburbs. Yet I am told 
there are some people in this neighborhood who persist, and 
at considerable outlay and trouble, in using thousands of 
tender bedding plants to make poor representations of 
inanimate objects. If this is true they cannot make the plea 
of not knowing better, for all about them are many of the 
best and most tasteful gardens in America — splendid exam- 
ples of garden schemes in which the so-called bedding plants 
cut little or no figure. 

There has been so much written and said on the subject, 
and the great advantages of gardening with hardy plants and 
shrubs are so apparent, as compared with tender bedding plants, that it 
seems a waste of time and words to make any argument in favor of one 
and against the other; but the argument is needed as much as ever, for 
it is an undeniable fact that nine-tenths of the ornamental gardening in 
America is still done with a few commonplace and uninteresting bedding 





RUS.^ SETIGERA 



A PLEA FOR HARDY PLANTS 



II 



plants. Think of the pity of it, that all this enormous annual expenditure 
should be wasted — an expenditure that leaves our gardens in the fall 
exactly as it found them in the spring, — bare earth, and nothing in it. 

Is it because the people prefer bedding plants to hardy ones? You 
who know hardy plants know that this is not so. Who would prefer, 
let us say, a bed of coleuses or geraniums to a fine group of rhodo- 
dendrons, or azaleas, or Li/iiim cuiratiiin, or Japanese anemones, or to 
the hundreds of fine things to be had in hardy shrubs and plants? 
Any one of these has a beauty incomparably greater than can be pro- 
duced with the most lavish use of bedding plants. Then the bedding 
plants are a yearly expense, while an investment in hardy plants and 
shrubs returns the investor an annual dividend in increased size and 
loveliness. Every dollar spent for them secures a permanent addition 




AZALEA NUDIFLORA 



12 A PLEA FOR HARDY PLANTS 

to the garden, and the time soon comes when the annual outlay can 
be devoted entirely to care and culture. 

I know a gentleman who carried a fine stalk of LUiiim auraliim 
flowers into the office of one of the largest business houses in our city. 
Not a man in the office knew what it was, and all were unwilling to 
believe that it grew in his garden. They supposed it to be some rare 
and costly flower grown in a conservatory. Yet these lilies, and 
dozens of other things as fine, can now be bought as cheaply as bedding 
plants. 

The people do not prefer bedding plants to hardy ones. They 
have no choice in the matter. They buy what the local florist ofi^ers 
and what they see in their neighbors' gardens. They are not sufficiently 
interested to make inquiries. They do not read the gardening papers; 
and, with few exceptions, the managers of the city parks, who should be 
educators of the people in gardening, are content with what might be 
called an annual pyrotechnical display of bedding plants, as it is of such 
short duration and little artistic value. 

The popularity of bedding plants is happily on the wane. It occurs 
to almost everybody after a time that they do not get much for their 
money when they buy this sort of material; but I cannot say that hardy 
plants are gaining much. There is no considerable effort made to 
attract the public attention to their merits; and when some man, more 
enterprising than his neighbors, does take the trouble to hunt them up 
and do his gardening with them the result is not always happy. He 
is very apt to use them as he would bedding plants — that is, in formal 
beds cut out of the grass of the lawn. Of course, hardy plants do not 
lend themselves to this treatment, and it is one of their greatest merits 
that they do not. Better no flowers at all than that the lawn should 
be cut up in formal beds for their accommodation. 

An objection often urged against hardy plants is their short dura- 
tion of bloom, but this really is one of their greatest merits. Let us 
consider the garden that depends exclusively upon bedding plants for its 
decoration. It is usually the first of June before they can be planted, 
and It is well into July before they are effective ; often by the end 
of September they are killed by frost, and every day during their short 
season of three months they are as unchanging in appearance as the 
carpets in our houses, and about as interesting. 

On the contrary, the well-planned and well-planted garden of hardy 




KDLk-GAHDEN AND POOL AT IfELLESLEY. MASS. 




•^'<^: 






plants begins its season A\ith earliest 
spnng and terminates it not with the hrst 
light frosts of fall, but when November 
brings some real winter weather, and then 
only goes to rest to delight us afresh 
with the coming of another spring. 
Almost every day throughout its long 
season the hardy garden is changing 
with the changes of the season, some- 
thing new is coming into bloom, and 
before it becomes monotonous its season 
is over and its place taken by some 
other flower equally beautiful and inter- 
esting but entirely different. Our gar- 
den is never tiresome; its past is a 
pleasant memory, its future a delightful 
anticipation, and Its bloom an accurate 
calendar of the seasons. Is this true, or 
only fanciful writing? It is true, every 
word of it — hard but pleasant facts. 

Snowdrops are in bloom with the first 
pleasant weather in spring; some springs 
they are in bloom during the first week 
in March. They are quickly followed by 
scillas and crocuses, and then comes the 



A PLEA FOR HARDY PLANTS 



15 



season of tulips and narcissi, with their countless varieties. What a 
variety of form in the narcissi ! What a wealth of color in the tulips ! 
Their season is fully a month, and before it is done the early-flowering 
herbaceous plants are showing bloom and the flowering shrubs have 
begun a display that will end only with fall. By May scores of hardy 
shrubs, and plants are in bloom — creeping phloxes, columbines, do- 
ronicums, Oriental poppies, German and Siberian irises, and in shrubs, 
lilacs, early spireas, Japan quinces, magnolias, and Mollis and Ghent 
azaleas. We must not forget the hardy climbers, of which the clematis, 
in its numerous splendid varieties, covers a season of fully six months and 
with which alone a most charming and interesting garden could be made. 
June brings such a wealth of bloom that we are at a loss as to what 
to use and what to reject. Rhododendrons in many varieties and colors, 




HERBACEOUS PEONY 



i6 



A PLEA FOR HARDY PLANTS 



kalmias, Lilium candidum and elegans, and hardy roses are the flowers, 
perhaps, that hold the greatest share of our admiration at this season, 
and if June gave us hardy roses alone, our garden should be satis- 
factory. The memory of a fine collection of hardy 
roses in full bloom is worth more than all the rib- 
bon- and carpet-beds ever devised ; and in saying 
this it is with full knowledge of the much-adver- 
tised rolls of carpet, vases, worlds of flowers, etc., 
which South Park, Chicago, exhibits to a 
wondering world. 

I fear that much of the benefit of the 
?.^ example of Mr. Olmsted's 
and Mr. Codman's work at 
the World's Fair was lost. 
It was so well done and so 
naturally done that a ma- 
jority of the visitors 
never suspected that a 
landscape gardener had 
been employed. 

After the glori- 
ous beauty of June 
we might be con- 
::ent to have our 
garden tame for a 
month or two. But 
there is no need 
for tameness. At 
the beginning of 
July the magnifi- 
cent Japanese irises 
are in bloom, than 
which there is noth- 
ing finer. Wealthy 
men build and 
maintain glass 
houses at great 
expense to shelter 




FURSYTHIJ FORTUNEl 




FOXGLOVES IN A GARDEN AT EDGEJf'ORTH, PA. 



things not half so fine. After the irises come the Japanese lilies, and 
with a little management these will give a brave show of bloom through- 
out the summer and fall until frost comes. To carry us through the 
summer we have also tall phloxes, yuccas, rudbeckias, gaillardias, tiger 
lilies, hollyhocks — single and double ^ — campanulas, Rosa riigosa, day 
lilies, altheas, hydrangeas, tamarix, hardy sunflowers, bocconias, bol- 
tonias, the splendid tall delphiniums, and the curious and beautiful 
Liatris pycnostachya, which attracts all the butterflies in the neighborhood. 
These and many other lovely things give a succession of beauty through- 
out the summer days. 

And when fall comes we have still some of the best flowers in reserve, 
notably the Japanese anemones and the old-fashioned and really hardy 
chrysanthemums. The flowers of both these good things will endure 
the early frosts and early snow-storms and delight us with a show of 
bloom on such sunshiny days as we may be favored with in late fall. 



20 



A PLEA FOR HARDY PLANTS 



It may be thought that to win my admiration a flower must be hardy. 
Nothing of the sort. Certainly the basis of all good outdoor gardening 
must be hardy material; but the skilful gardener or amateur will find a 
place for many tender plants, and especially for the so-called summer- 
blooming bulbs, such as gladioli, dahlias, and tuberous begonias, all 
of which are easily wintered in any dwelHng-house; and he will even find 
a place for the new large-flowering cannas, but that place is not in 
isolated beds on the lawn. I have seen them used to the best advantage 
in small groups in the margin of shrubbery, where the full benefit of 
their really fine coloring was attained, but their stifYness and ungracefulness 
concealed. And the many fine annuals which are so cheaply and easily 
raised from seeds are not to be overlooked— /"/z/o.v Tirummondii , Shirley 
poppies, sweet peas, asters, calliopsis, are all fine, and I am free to 
confess that there are but few things among hardy plants that I admire 

more than a fine mass of tall nas- 
turtiums. The garden of hardy 
plants is within the reach of 
the humblest gardener, yet 
it will satisfy the demand 
of the most ambitious; 
and the finest show 
places of America 
and Europe are de- 
voted almost exclu- 
sively to hardy ma- 
terial. If a great 
collection is desired, 
there are countless 
thousands of species 
and varieties to be 
obtained ; or if it is 
desired to show 
great cultural skill, 
the rare alpine s, 
the lovely California 
poppy {Romncya 
Coulteri), the stately 
eremurus, the 




IIARDT ASTERS 



22 



A PLEA FOR HARDY PLANTS 



charming rock roses, the noted edehveiss, the dainty trailing arbutus^ 
and scores of other lovely but difficult plants will try one's ingenuity 
and patience to the utmost. In gardening, as in other pursuits, the 
greater the labor the greater the reward. 

I have almost overlooked the water garden,* which of all gardens is 
perhaps the most interesting and charming. What possibilities here of 
lovely and artistic arrangements with all the great variety of aquatic and 



1 




PU\U IIIIIS Jl ITII inRD^ in DR4\GI 4S I\ nil BUKGROi \D 



semi-aquatic plants! What can be more lovely than the nymphaeas, now 
obtainable in a score of shades and colors, or grander than the stately 
nelumbiums, with their splendid pink, white or yellow flowers? How 
charming the water garden can be has been shown by Mr. Wilson, of 

"""Since this lecture was delivered, IVIiss Jekyll's charming book, "Wall and Water Gardens," has 
been published. It describes and illustrates two very interesting phases of gardening in an exhaus- 
tive way, and is altogether a d.-lightful book, with some of the best gardening pictures that have ever 
been published. 




^=^. 



^ 1 




24 A PLEA FOR HARDY PLANTS 

Wisley, England, and if there are any more interesting or lovely gardens 
than this I have failed to see them. 

Recently there have been introduced a great many new varieties of 
nymphaeas, all interesting to the collector; but Mr. Robinson says, and 
my experience confirms it, that the really desirable hardy garden kinds 
can be included in a selection of six varieties, — that is, varieties of such 
vigorous growth and free-flowering qualities that they make garden pic- 
tures. The varieties he names are Nymphffa alba candidhsima, TV . Glad- 
sloiiiana, N. MaiTiacea rosea, N. Marliacea cbromatella, N. odorata, and N. 
odorata rosea. 

The most important thing we have to consider in connection with 
gardening hardy plants and shrubs is their arrangement. We must study 
to produce a pleasing effect at all seasons and to have a succession of 
bloom, so that the garden will never be dull or uninteresting. 

First, let us take the smallest garden that we can hope to make a 
gardening success with, — that is, a fifty-foot city or suburban lot. This is 
a lot usually considered too small to do much with in a gardening way, 
yet it is the lot owned by thousands of well-to-do and cultivated people, 
and well worthy of consideration. I can best illustrate a good arrangement 
for such a lot by describing a garden in my neighborhood. The lot is 
fifty feet front and one hundred and twenty feet deep to an alley. A path 
leads from the sidewalk to the steps of the front porch; thence around 
the west side of the house to the steps of the kitchen porch, and thence 
straight out to the alley. The house is thirty feet from the street line. 
The owner of the lot believes with me that every garden should be 
inclosed, and has selected as the most desirable inclosure a hedge of 
California privet, which furnishes him a background of verdure to set 
his flowering plants against. He has some difficulty in establishing a 
portion of the hedge immediately between his house and those of his 
neighbors, on account of the shade, but has overcome it by extra 
culture and deep trenching and draining. The plan of his extremely 
simple but effective garden is as follows : A border has been made 
entirely around the house except at the entrances, varying from one to 
three feet in width. The front porch is covered with Hall's and golden 
honeysuckles. Clematis Jackmani, C. Hciiryi, and C. paniciilala . The 
borders in front of the porch are planted with Eulalia gracillitna, 
erianthus, Fiinkia Sieboldiana and F. snhcordata — the funkias in front 
of the eulalia and erianthus. As all these plants are grown for 




x^^^ - ^ i I 



ki \;^-xm- 



■RHODODENDRON MAXIMUM 
IN THE H'OODS 






,«'^ 



y'n'^^'\.^^g^^ 



§^ 



L^. 



w 



i 







y^tfi'^ 







BURDER OF TULIPS ALONG EDGE OF SHRUBBERY 

Showing an effective and permanent way of using spring-flowering bulbs 



form and foliage, they are effective tliroughout the season. A group of 
tuberous begonias is also introduced in this border, and of course has 
to be planted every season. The border on the east side of the house is 
quite shaded, and consequently is planted with shade-loving plants, prin- 
cipally native ferns, with groups of native cypripediums, trilliums, 
lilies-of-the-valley, tiarellas, and a large group of Li/iiim lancifoUum at the 
end of the border where there is the most light. The garden back of 
the house is almost fifty feet square, but one side is perhaps sixty feet on 
account of the shape of the house. This garden is completely inclosed 
by a border, except where it is broken by the necessary path. This 
border commences west of the kitchen porch steps, and follows the line of 
the house until it reaches the division between the front and back gardens; 
it then crosses to the hedge, which it follows, so that there is a flower bor- 
der in front of all the hedge back of the line of the house. This border is 
five feet wide except on the west side of the lot, where the entire space. 



28 A PLEA FOR HARDY PLANTS 

about seven feet, is taken up, except a narrow border of grass between 
the shrubs and the walk. This space is planted with fifty hardy roses, 
mostly hybrid perpetuals, in thirty of the best varieties. In front of 
these roses is planted a narrow border, about ten inches wide, of various 
narcissi; among the roses gladioli are planted every spring. The 
remainder of the border is planted with herbaceous plants in groups, with 
a selection that secures a succession of bloom. This selection includes 
columbines, Japanese anemones, irises, lilies, peonies, German irises, 
Helianthus latiflonis, Coreopsis Itinceolata, gaillardias, Rudbeckia liirta, hardy 
asters, campanulas, phloxes, delphiniums, and Henchera sanguinea. In 
front of these is a narrow border of tulips, narcissi, millas, etc., 
which is carpeted with Phlox siibithita. Room is also found for some sweet 
peas. Phlox Dniiiiiiioiu/ii, and nasturtiums. 

(Placing a border of hardy plants in front of a hedge is one of the 
most effective arrangements that can be made, but for cultural results 
about the worst, as the roots of the hedge rob the plants of needed suste- 
nance. This difficulty is easily overcome, however, by placing a sunk par- 
tition, say two feet deep, of two-inch oak planks between the hedge and 
the border.) 

The kitchen porch of this house is covered with honeysuckles and 
clematis and the brick walls with Ampelopsis Feitchi. At one corner of 
the house is planted a Chinese wistaria, which is trained upon a single 
wire to the top of the house and then along the eaves. The neces- 
sary, but usually unsightly, posts for the clothes-line are converted into 
a charming feature of the garden in this way: For the posts, locust 
saplings about eight inches in diameter, with the branches shortened back 
to five or six feet, have been used ; these are covered with Japanese 
honeysuckle, trumpet creeper, and Cleniatis pankidata, one over each of 
three posts ; and golden honeysuckle and Clematis Jackmani together 
on the other. As the space for flowering shrubs is extremely limited, 
only the choicest are used — a Magnolia stellata and a red-leaved Jap- 
anese maple in the front garden, and a Magnolia Sonlangeana, a Mag- 
nolia conspiciui, and a Japanese snowball in the back garden. The 
magnolias will in time become too large for the garden, but it will not 
be for many years, and the owner is content, for the sake of their great 
beauty, to cut them out and replace them with smaller ones when he must. 

In addition to all this planting, the lawn is filled with crocuses, 
scillas, and snowdrops, — a very pleasing way of using them. 




JAFANhSI: IHIS 



30 



A PLEA FOR HARDY PLANTS 



This garden is the most efifective, beautiful, and interesting in the 
neighborhood, yet is made on a lot usually considered too small to 
have gardening possibilities. It cost more than most gardens of this 
size, but it is complete; nothing more need be bought. On the con- 
trary, the overflow of the natural increase is brightening the gardens 
of neighbors and friends. This garden has also privacy, which I hold 
is as desirable in a garden as it is in the living-rooms of the house. 

Suburban lots of one hundred and fifty feet frontage, and from 
that to an acre or two acres in extent, are popular sizes in this country. 
Such lots admit of a combination border made with hardy shrubs and 
plants — one of the most attractive ways in which they can be used. 
Such a border will vary, of course, in size, shape, and formation, with 
the requirements of individual places, and must be designed to suit 
them; but let us suppose a lot of one hundred and fifty feet frontage 
and two hundred feet depth, with an eastern exposure. The house is 










CROCUSES NATURALIZED IN OPEN IVOODS 



A PLEA FOR HARDY PLANTS 



:^i 



placed midway in the lot and only 
far enough away from the northern 
boundary to permit of a screen of 
planting. It is common to place 
the house as nearly in the center 
of the lot as possible, but it is a 
mistake, for such a location reduces 
the size of the lawn and the gar- 
dening possibilities greatly. We 
would occupy the entire southern 
and western boundaries of the lot, 
and perhaps a portion of the east- 
ern, with the border, which should 
vary in width from five or six feet 
up to twenty feet, with a curved 
outline on the lawn.- This border 
should be planted principally with 
shrubs arranged in groups, but a 
few trees, such as birches, magnolias 
and J.udas trees, should be used, 
and a few evergreens, such as reti- 
nosporas, and quite a number of 
evergreen shrubs. Where a great 
variety of hardy plants is desired ?j 
the entire margin of this border 
might be filled with them, but a 
more effective arrangement is to 
plant them in bold groups, — one 
variety in a group, — and alternate 
them with groups of shrubs. Some 
of the stronger-growing plants, such 
as sunflowers, foxgloves, and single 
hollyhocks, might be placed in the 
middle or back part of the border, 
and the Japanese lilies — auratum, 
rubrum, and album — and our Ameri- 
can species, superbum, can always 
be planted in, and combined to ad- 




Llt.WM AURATUM ASU HARDY HYDRAXGEAS 



32 A PLEA FOR HARDY PLANTS 

vantage with groups of rhododendrons and azaleas. After such a border 
is completely planted with shrubs and hardy plants there will be many 
opportunities for introducing colonies of spring-flowering bulbs — tulips, 
narcissi, etc. — and the advantage of using bulbs in this way is that the 
planting is permanent and that they are really more efifective than in 
formal-shaped beds cut out of the lawn. It is the intention to keep 
this border in a cultivated condition, free from weeds and grass, and 
to give an annual mulching of manure. A lot of this size, planted so 
densely on its boundary, should have its lawn kept quite free and open 
and have only a few choice specimens planted on it, and no large trees, 
except street trees on the edge of the sidewalk. 

I do not claim that this is the most artistic arrangement that can be 
made for a small suburban place. I have in mind a most artistic place 
that is almost inclosed by a quite narrow planting of ordinary trees and 
shrubs, with a mass of trees back of the house and a single magnificent 
specimen tree on the front lawn. This is a satisfactory arrangement, as an 
example of fine architecture is satisfactory, but all the variety, interest, and 
pleasure of gardening is lost. 

In larger grounds, where a vegetable garden and perhaps an orchard 
are features, the opportunities for using hardy shrubs and plants are much 
greater and more varied. The vegetable garden may be made the most 
interesting and delightful place imaginable. Usually it is simply a field of 
vegetables, fully exposed from all points of the ground and very often 
unsightly. Now, the vegetable garden should be concealed from the lawn 
and house; and this necessity at once suggests a border, or boundary 
planting, of shrubs and herbaceous plants as described for the smaller 
suburban lot. This planting should not only hide the garden but should 
hide its outlines, which are usually rectangular. The garden itself should 
be inclosed with a hedge, which should show from the inside of the garden 
but never from the lawn. California privet makes a very satisfactory 
garden hedge, but where that is not hardy, hemlock spruce can be used. 
Nothing makes a finer hedge than this, but it is slower growing than the 
privet, of which I have seen a perfect hedge five feet high made in three 
seasons, starting with two-year-old plants. A convenient walk from the 
house should pass through the shrubbery into the garden, and of course a 
convenient entrance will be made for bringing in manure, etc. A walk 
should be laid out all around the garden five to six feet wide, with a six- 
foot border for flowers between the walk and the hedge. There should 



34 



A PLEA FOR HARDY PLANTS 



be also two walks, six feet wide, crossing each other at right angles and 
dividing the garden into four rectangular pieces of about equal size. On 
both sides of these walks, grapes, dwarf pears, and small fruits can be 
planted, and also on the inner sides of the outer walk if desired. The 
walks can be made of any material that is convenient, and need not be 
expensive. In one garden that I know, they are made of grass and kept 
as a lawn would be. I know that there are objections that can be urged 
against grass walks, but the owner of the garden in question does not 
find them objectionable, and they are certainly more pleasing to the eye 
than gravel walks. The border between the walk and the hedge should 
be given up entirely to flowers ; hardy plants should predominate, but 
there should be liberal spaces reserved for summer-blooming bulbs and 
annuals. In the hardy plants each variety should be grouped and as 
many sorts used as thought desirable, but in making a selection flowers 
suitable for cutting, as well as for making a garden effect, should be 
preferred. Such bold and striking plants as single hollyhocks and fox- 
gloves should be planted in decided masses, and a border with eastern 
or southern exposure should be used for hybrid perpetual roses. 

A vegetable garden, arranged as described and properly cared for, 
in addition to being an interesting and pleasant place to visit, would 
furnish an abundant supply of cut-flowers for the house, for the church, 
for the hospital, and for friends; and I think one of the keenest pleas- 
ures a garden can afford is the ability to give away flowers without stint. 
The garden of hardy flowers enables one to give away plants as well 
as flowers, for the natural increase soon makes a surplus. 

In large grounds there are often opportunities for using hardy 
plants and shrubs in a freer and more picturesque way than any I have 
suggested ; that is, the planting of them in groups and masses to pro- 
duce the same effects as if they were growing wild. Indeed, after the 
first careful planting, they should be allowed to grow wild, without cul- 
ture and uncontrolled. The naturalizing of hardy material does not 
mean that we should attempt to imitate the thickets, woods, or meadows 
on our lawns. It does mean the taking advantage of a brookside for 
groups and colonies of irises, narcissi, hardy ferns, the splendid 
Lilium siipcrbum, and the scores of beautiful things that will thrive in 
the grass if it is not to be cut with the lawn-mower. It means the 
planting of an irregular group of foxgloves on the edge of a wood, or 
the covering of a rough bank with a mass of kalmias or native azaleas 



A PLEA FOR HARDY PLANTS 



35 



or native rhododendrons, or with all of these shrubs together. It means 
increasing the beauty and interest of wild and rough parts of a place 
a hundred-fold, but considerable taste and knowledge of materials are 
needed to produce good results. 

We must not overlook the claims of climbing shrubs and plants 




DUG'S-TOOTH IIULETS 



to our consideration. No gardening scheme, large or small, should 
ignore them. We can imagine a most delightful garden where they, in 
connection with trees and shrubbery, alone are used ; and, if we consider 
their decorative effect, foliage, gracefulness of growth, and the great 
beauty of flowers that many of them have, we must admit that they are 
entitled to a more important place in our gardens. The free use of the 
clematis family alone would give a thousand-fold more beauty than is 



36 A PLEA FOR HARDY PLANTS 

obtainable with the most lavish use of bedding plants; and here we not 
only consider the large-flowered type but the smaller-flowered sorts as 
well, with their luxuriance of growth and their charming efi^ect when used 
as tree, shrub, hedge, or fence drapery. And then the climbing roses — 
what a glorious possibility here, with their showers of bloom in June ! 

Climbers will not exhibit their best charms if trained in a stifi^ and 
formal manner; they must, in whatever position used, be allowed to grow 
untrammeled. My neighbor's garden furnished a good illustration of this. 
He planted common morning-glories all about his porch, with the inten- 
tion of training them on strings later; but he was diverted from his inten- 
tion and the morning-glories were allowed to grow as they would. The 
effect was most charming; they clambered over every shrub they could 
reach, shared a trellis with a clematis, and, where they could find nothing 
to climb on, formed mounds of green of the most tangled and pleasing 
description. Morning-glories, common as they are, if used rightly, pro- 
duce the most delightful efi^ects. One of the right ways is to sow them 
among tall grass, or among low bushes and shrubbery; and as they renew 
themselves annually from seed they may properly be considered hardy. 
As a rule, vines should not be trained in a formal manner. If you would 
have them exhibit their best graces they must be allowed to grow uncon- 
trolled. All know the uses that vines are commonly put to — that of cov- 
ering the walls of the house, furnishing shade for porch or arbor, and the 
covering of screens and trellises. Besides these, almost every place of any 
size offers opportunities for their growth in a freer and more natural way 
that will greatly add to the charm and delight of the garden. Perhaps a 
neglected shrubbery, unsightly in itself, will afi^ord support for such easily 
grown things as honeysuckles. Clematis Firginiana and C. Flammitia ; or 
the common wild morning-glory, so plentiful in many places, would be 
quite at home here. An unsightly fence might be partly concealed and 
made a thing of beauty with climbing roses, honeysuckles, or clematises; 
or an old tree, past its prime and beginning to be unsightly, would be the 
very thing on which to grow such vigorous vines as the aristolochia, 
wistaria, trumpet vine, and the common Virginia creeper. In how 
many places are seen evergreens in a half-dead condition, which only pro- 
crastination has spared from the axe, and as unsightly as could well be ; 
but nothing could be better on which to grow the large-flowered 
clematis, which furnishes a profusion of lovely bloom that no words can 
describe. Some vines, like the golden honeysuckle, planted in the grass. 




IRIS SIBIRICA 



will pile themselves up in masses, and if any shrub is within reach will 
clamber over it, producing an effect entirely pleasing. There is nothing 
more charming in nature than the combination of shrub or tree with wild 
vines. Who has not seen the living canopy of green formed by the wild 
grape over the top of some tree or the stronger-growing shrubs, or how 
some wild vine converts a thicket of brambles and an old fence into 
objects of beauty that the most ambitious gardener might copy? 

It is not possible to name all of the desirable hardy shrubs and 
plants now obtainable; but I think it is well to give a list of what I 
would commend as the very best, taking into consideration their ease of 
culture, as well as the beauty of their bloom, form, and foliage. I know 
many would disagree with me as to the contents of this list, but I am 
confident that the beginner could make no mistake in including any 
or all of the varieties named in this planting list. I have tried to name 
these plants and shrubs somewhat in the order they hold in my esteem ; 
but this is a difficult matter, as I am very apt to think the finest thing 
to be the last fine thing that I have seen. 



38 



A PLEA FOR HARDY PLANTS 

List of Plants 



Hybrid perpetual roses in 
variety, including 
Mrs. John Laing, 
Paul Neyron, 
Ulrich Brunner, 
Mrae. Gabriel Luizet, 
General Jacqueminot, 
Anne de Diesbach, 
Magna Charta, 
Baroness Rothschild, 
Captain Christy, and 
Clio, 

Anemone Japonica alba, 

Anemone Pennsylvanica, 

Single hollyhocks, 

Japanese irises, 

Lilium auratum, 

Rudbeckia speciosa, 

Rudbeckia, Golden Glow, 

Aquilegias in variety. 

Yucca filamenlosa, 

Pteonia f estiva maxima. 

Herbaceous peonies — single 
and double, in variety, 

Lilium speciosum, 

Helianthus orgyalis, 

Helianthus mollis grandiflorus, 

Helianthus Maximitiani, 

Helianthus lo'tiflorus, 

Foxgloves, 

Phlox, Miss Lingard, 

Tall perennial phloxes in 
variety. 



Delphiniums in variety, 

German irises, 

Aster Noz'a'-AngUtt roscus, 

Chrysanthemums — old - fash- 
ioned hardy sorts, 

Iberis sempervirens, 

Lilium supcrbum, 

Lilium Canadense, 

Lilium Hansoni, 

Lilium 'Brownii, 

Lilium excelsum, 

Lilium Thunbergianum in va- 
riety, 

Lilium tigrinum, 

Lilium tigrinum fl. pi., 

Lilium Krameri, 

Phlox subulata and the variety 
alba. 

Phlox divaricala, 

Phlox Carolina, 

Phlox reptans, 

Pyrethrum uHginosum, 

Sedum spectabile, 

'Doronicum plantagineum excel- 
sum, 

Gaillardias, 

Oriental poppies. 

Tree peonies, 

Eulalia Japonica gracillima, 

Funkia Sieboldiana, 

Funkia subcordata 

Funkia cucullata, 

Funkia coTulea, 



Funkia variegata, 
Arundo Donax, 
Hibiscus Moscheutos, 
Heuchera sanguinea, 
Pyrethrum roseum — single and 

double varieties, 
Spirtea palmata, 
Spiraa Filipendula, 
Spiraa Aruncus, 
Spiraa lob at a, 
Tiarella cordifolia, 
Myosotis palustris semperflorens, 
Helianthus rigidus. 
Campanula turbinata, 
Platycodon Mariesi, 
I'iola cornuta, 
Cypripedium spectabile. 
Native ferns in variety, 
Thalictrum aquilegifoUum, 
Liatris pycnostachya, 
Tritoma Pfitzerii, 
Tritoma in variety. 
Polyanthus, 
English primrose, 
Asclepias tuberosa, 
Hemerocallis flava, 
HemerocalUs Thunhergii, 
Hemerocallis aurantiaca major, 
Hemerocallis fulva, 
Bocconia in variety, 
Monarda didyma, 
Pentstemon Torreyi, 
Lythrum roseum. 



Narcissus, 'Bicolor Horsfieldii 
Narcissus, Poet's, 
Narcissus, Emperor, 
Narcissus, Van Sion, 
Narcissus alba plena odorata. 
Narcissus, Golden Spur, 
Narcissus, Trumpet Major, 
Narcissus, 'Bicolor Empress, 



Spring -Flowering Bulbs 

alba 



Narcissus incomparabilis 

Stella, 
Narcissus, 'Barri conspicuus, 
Narcissus, Sir Watkin, 
Tulips, Early-flowering single. 
Tulips, Gesneriana — late- 
flowering single. 
Tulips, Late-flowering, 
Tulips, Show, 



Tulips, May-blooming, 
Tulips, Parrot, 
Tulips in variety, 
Milla uniflora. 
Crocuses in variety, 
Scilla Sibirica, 
Scillas in variety, 
Single snowdrops. 



A PLEA FOR HARDY PLANTS 



39 



Clematis paniculala, 
Clematis Henryi, 
Clematis Fitalba, 
Clematis cocciiiea, 
Clematis hybrids, 
Ampelopsis J'eitchi, 
Lonicera Halliana, 
Clematis Jackmani, 
Purple Chinese wistaria, 
Clematis J'irginiana, 
Clematis Flammula, 



Kalmia latifolia. 
Rhododendrons, Catawbiense 

hybrids, 
Rhododendron maximum , 
Rhododendron Catatvbiense, 
Magnolia stellata, 
Ghent and Mollis azaleas, 
Japan maples in four \arieties 

— sanguineum, aiireiim, dis- 

sectum, and dissertiim atro- 

purpureum, 
Hydrangea panictilata grandi- 

flo ra, ' 
Hydrangea panictilata. 
Hydrangea radiata, 
Japan snowball. 
Lilacs in variety, 
Tamarix tetranda, 
Tamarix Chinensis, 
'Berberis Thunbergii, 
Forsythia suspensa, 
Exochorda grandiflora, 
Desmodium pendiiliflorum, 
Spirrea Lindleyana, 
Spiraa Reevesiana, 
Spireea Reevesiana ft. pi., 
Spirea, Anthony Waterer, 
Spira-o Bumalda, 



Climbers 

Trumpet creeper. 

Golden Japan honeysuckle, 

Crimson Rambler rose, 

Rambler Rose, Helena, 

Rose, W. C. Egan. 

Tijisa JFichuraiana, 

'Rjisa If'ichuraiana rubra, 

Aristolochia Sipho, 

Tiosa multiflora, 

Akebia quinata, 

'Bignonia radicans. 

Shrubs 

Spima Thunbergii, 

Spira-a prunifolia ft. pi., 

Spiraa sorbifolia, 

Rhus aromatica, 

Clethra alnifolia, 

Cercis Japonicum, 

Sambucus Canadensis, 

Sambucus pubens, 

Halesia tetraptera, 

I'iburnum dilalatum, 

I'iburnum oxycoccus, 

I'iburnum dentatum. 

Azalea calendulacea. 

Azalea arborescens. 

Azalea nudiflora. 

Azalea Vaseyi, 

Spiraa J^an Houttei, 

Spiraa arguta, 

Rosa rugosa, 

Rosa setigera, 

Rosa rubrifolia, 

Rosa Carolina, 

Rosa arvensis, 

Altheas, dwarf single white, 

Buist's variegated, and 

double varieties, 
Japan quince, 
'Deutzia crenata ft. pi., 
'Deutzia gracilis. 



Hignonia grandiflora, 
Celastrus scandens, 
Celastrus paniculatus , 
Euonymus radicans, 
Euonymus radicans variegatus. 
Polygonum 'Baldschuanicum, 
Fitis odorata, 
Lonicera Heckrotti, 
Lonicera fuchsioides, 
Actinidia arguta. 
'Berchemia racemosa. 



'Deutzia Lemoinei, 
Hydrangea quercifolia, 
Philadelphus caronarius, 
Philadelphus Avalanche, 
Philadelphus erectus, 
Weigela rosea, 

Weigela rosea nana variegata, 
Weigela, Eva Rathke, 
Weigela, Conquete, 
Weigela, Saturne, 
Weigela, Lavellei, 
Weigela, Abel Carriere, 
Weigela ca n did a , 
Forsythia Fortunei, 
Golden Elc-'r, 
Andromeda Japonica, 
Andromeda floribunda, 
Andromeda arborea, 
Elceagnus longipes, 
Snowberries, white and red, 
Prunus maritima, 
Prunus Pissardi, 
Hypericum aureum, 
Ligustrum Ibota, 
Upright honeysuckles, 
Xanthoceras sorbifolia, 
Mahonia aquifolium, 
Leucotho'c Catesbai. 



40 



A PLEA FOR HARDY PLANTS 



I have placed hardy roses at the head of the list of plants, although 
they are really shrubs, but they belong in the flower garden and not 
in the shrubbery. None will dispute their right to the place of honor; 
but, notwithstanding the universal admiration that is expressed for them, 
they are grown in but comparatively few gardens. It requires consid- 
erable effort to have them in perfection, but the results amply reward 
the labor. I cannot go into cultural directions; but I wish to say, and 
with considerable emphasis, that in my experience in growing roses, 
which has been as an amateur, I have found roses on their own roots 
much more satisfactory than budded plants. 

I know that Japanese irises and a dozen other herbaceous plants 

have as strong claims perhaps for 
consideration as the white Japanese 
anemone, which has my unqualified 
admiration. It has so many good 
qualities — individual beauty of flow- 
ers; great efl^ectiveness in the gar- 
den, shrubbery, or border ; good 
foliage at all seasons ; a long sea- 
son of bloom, and flowers that will 
endure a degree of frost that 
destroys almost everything else. 
Its only limitation is that it will 
not thrive in light, sandy soil, but 
in a heavy, rich soil it grows with 
great vigor. I have often seen it 
five feet high, and that, too, in 
places where it had been natural- 
ized and received no attention 
after planting. 

Why is it that single hollyhocks 
are not offered for sale or grown by 
nurserymen and plantsmen? Surely 
they are the most stately, pictur- 
esque, and decorative herbaceous 
plants in cultivation, and I have 
never met anybody who did not 
greatly admire them ; but, so far as 




!• AV Lull's I. ^ IMPERIALIS 

Showing effect of growth when cut to the ground 

every spring 







PYRETURUM RUSLUM 



I know, they cannot be bought — not even the seed. The single sorts 
are always very much finer than the highly cultivated double sorts, whose 
culture has been made difrlcult of late on account of the hollyhock dis- 
ease. On the contrary, the single varieties are of the easiest culture, and 
once established will take care of themselves in almost any location. 

Equally neglected are the old-fashioned and really hardy chrysanthe- 
mums, which are still to be found in an occasional garden. I know 
these chrysanthemums would cut but a poor figure at exhibitions and 
in florists' windows, but they have far more gardening value than all 
the hundreds of new varieties introduced in the last few years, which can 
only be grown in perfection by the skilful florist or by the amateur 
who has all the facilities of the florist. 

The numerous fine exhibitions of chrysanthemums every fall are 
very enjoyable, but I fail to see that they have helped gardening any, 
except that of a very limited class. On the contrary, outdoor gardening 
has been retarded by the disappointment of thousands of people who 
have tried to grow the exhibition pets in their gardens. 



44 



A PLEA FOR HARDY PLANTS 



In a recent number of "Garden and Forest," Mr. Gerard has very 
properly called attention to the possible field of the hybridizer in improv- 
ing really hardy chrysanthemums for garden purposes; and in a later 
number a writer takes exceptions to his remarks, claiming that the 
flowers are always damaged by frost and that their habit is straggling 
and poor as compared with the improved greenhouse varieties. 

Now, I think we have all seen chrysanthemums in farmhouse yards 
and village gardens that have endured for years, and that have, with- 
out any special culture, produced an annual mass of very satisfactory 
flowers and foliage ; and there is no doubt that the flowers of these 
sorts will go through considerable frost and snow without tarnishing. 

These chrysanthemums are certainly useful material for the hybridizer, 
but for the present we shall be very well satisfied if some enterprising 
nurserymen will collect from old gardens such varieties as now exist and 
give us the opportunity of using them in our gardens. 

Before I conclude I wish to give a special word of praise to my 







BED OF SJFEET IVILLIAMS 




<* ^ f 



V 



46 



A PLEA FOR HARDY PLANTS 



favorite shrub, Kalmia latifolia, which is known in Pennsylvania, where it is 
very common in the woods, as the small-leaved mountain laurel. It is 
greatly admired as a wild flower, and an occasional unsuccessful attempt is 
made to transplant it from the woods; but nurserymen have made no 
attempt to introduce it into general culture, and it is somewhat curious 
that it is necessary to send to England to get fine specimens of this dis- 
tinctively American plant. Excepting odor, it has every good quality that 
a shrub can have — evergreen foliage and good habit, great quantity of 
durable bloom, extreme daintiness and beauty of individual flowers, and 
usefulness as cut-flowers. If the flowers are cut just as the buds are about 
to open, and placed in water, they will last for two weeks in the house, and 
if arranged with taste nothing is more decorative. 

In one of his books, Donald G. Mitchell suggests that the kalmia 
would probably make an excellent hedge. I have never seen it tried, but I 
am. confident that it would — perhaps as fine as the holly hedges in England, 








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BLACK Sl'iiL'CE L\ THE ARNOLD ARHURhriM, BOSTON 



and, with a little discretion in trimming, a hedge of it could be made to 
produce a iine crop of bloom at least every other season. 

With nursery-grown plants to start with, the kalmia is of the easiest 
culture, requiring no special soil or location, and it is perfectly hardy. 
Like all evergreen shrubs, it should be transplanted in the spring. 

All the hardy plants I have named, with two or three exceptions, will 
thrive with ordinary garden culture, and some of them without any atten- 
tion after planting ; but, as they are usually planted where they are to 
remain for years, it would be well to make the initial preparation of the 
soil for them a liberal one. I usually specify that borders for hardy plants 
should have two feet of good, friable soil, mixed with one-fourth its bulk 



48 



A PLEA FOR HARDY PLANTS 



of rotted stable manure, and that they should be prepared in late summer 
or fall, the planting to be done in the fall and the following spring. Fall 
planting is not recommended for everything; my experience is that many 
plants are winter-killed after fall planting that would be quite hardy it 
they had the benefit of a growing season to establish themselves. Of 
course special plants require special treatment ; for instance, the bulbs of 




flOME OF AN ENGLISH COTTAGER 

Showing the beauty of simple but tasteful plan.inR. Compare this with illustration of stone house on opposite page 



the LUium auratum should not come in direct contact with manure, and the 
fine double and single varieties of Pyrethnim rosetiiii should be planted in 
beds raised a few inches, to prevent their rotting out in cold, wet weather. 
I would advise the same liberal preparation of the soil for shrubs that 
I do for hardy plants, though in many instances the expense would be pro- 
hibitory, or thought so; but in any event I should insist on the ground 
being subsoiled or trenched and a liberal application of manure being made. 
An annual mulching of manure is beneficial to shrubs and hardy plants. 



A PLEA FOR HARDY PLANTS 



49 



I have had a somewhat extended experience with rhododendrons, and 
my opinion of the proper soil to grow them in may be worth something. 
Their beauty is now pretty generally known and appreciated, but they are 
popularly considered tender and difficult to grow. This is largely owing 
to the selling of improperly grown plants and tender varieties, and to late 
fall planting, which is very apt to be fatal. I have found that when 




HOUSE AND GROUNDS OF AN AMERICAN MILLIONAIRE 

Photograph taken twelve years after completion of house 



Catawbiense seedlings, or the well-known hardy named varieties, grown on 
their own roots from layers, were planted, there was no difficulty in grow- 
ing them in any ordinary soil or in any position, except immediately under 
old-established trees. I have seen them grown with peat and with leaf- 
mold, but the best results I have ever seen in this country were where an 
excavation two and one-half feet deep had been made for them and filled 
in entirely with turfy, fibrous socis, chopped up, and allowed to stand over 
winter before planting. No manure was mixed with the sods, but after the 



50 



A PLEA FOR HARDY PLANTS 



rhododendrons were planted a mulching of rotted cow manure was 
applied to the surface of the soil. 

It seems to me I have said a great deal about the merit of hardy 
plants and shrubs, and but very little about their culture; but it must he 
remembered that my mind is more occupied with the designing of gardens 
than with their care, and I think it is quite as important to create an 
interest in hardy material as it is to teach how to grow it. Cultural skill 
will soon follow enthusiastic desire, which your society is doing so much to 
create, and when we can have horticultural societies of like intelligence and 
breadth of object in all our large cities the advancement of the best • 
gardening will be rapid. 

Note. — The plans illustrated in the following pages are intended to show some 
correct principles of arrangement and not to be used for any particular place. A plan, to 
be worth anything, must be made for the grounds for which it is intended, and all sur- 
roundings and conditions must be considered. 



aaMiiBit8.< ,^«^^<B«B«^ iwwaws .>f*^*s »■- 



k 



*i*'.^ 







SYRINGJ VILI.OSA. A SPECIES OF LILAC 



A PLEA FOR HARDY PLANTS 



51 



DETAILED PLAN FOR FLOWER GARDEN 

The accompanying plan is a section of the planting plan made for the grounds (five acres 
in extent) of the late C. L. Magee, Esq., of Pittsburg. The scheme of this garden is suffi- 
ciently explained by the specifications. The variety of plants and shrubs used insures a suc- 
cession of bloom from early spring until November. All the walks in this garden are of green 
sward, which makes it far more attractive than if they had been made of gravel, cement, or of 
any of the materials usually employed. 

There are a few old trees in the garden, and the planting near them is suitable for a shady 
location, and vines have been planted to climb over some of them (old cherry trees). 

The beds used for spring-flowering bulbs are also used for annuals, such as petunias, 
poppies, Phlox 'Drummondii, pinks, nasturtiums, and mignonette in the summer. 

A portion of the planting of tall shrubs and small trees is designed to shut out of view 
outbuildings on the adjoining property. 

PLANTING SPECIFICATIONS 



I. 


Magnolia Soiilangeana. 


27. 


Rkiis glabra laciniata. 




2. 


Spira'a ariafolia. 


28. 


Magnolia purpurea. 




3- 


Clethra a/nifolia. 


29. 


IFeigela floribunda. 


• 


4- 


Rhododendrons, with Liliiim aiiratum 


30. 


Hydrangea paniculata grandiflora. 






planted among them. 


31- 


Forsythia Fort unci. 




S- 


'Deutzia gracilis. 


32. 


Polygonum cuspidatum. 




6. 


Snowberries. 


33- 


Fitcx Agnus-castus. 




7- 


Rhododendrons, with Li I turn auratum 


3+- 


Corn us florida. 






planted among them. 


35- 


Crataegus Oxyacantha. 




8. 


Ligustrum Ibota. 


36. 


Hydrangea quercifolia. 




9- 


Coniiis saiiguinea. 


37- 


Weigela Candida. 




10. 


Hydrangea paniculata grandiflora. 


38. 


Clethra alnifolia. 




1 1. 


Colutea arboresceiis. 


39- 


Corchorus Japonicus. 




12. 


Spiraa Fan Houttei. 


40. 


Azalea calendulacea, with Lilium supe 


rbu 


13- 


Cercis occidentalis. 




planted among them. 




14. 


Fiburnum plicatum. 


41- 


Loniccra fragranlissima. 




15- 


Rhodotypus kerrioides. 


42- 


Spirea, Anthony Waterer. 




16. 


Magnolia Soulangeana. 


43- 


Fiburnum acerifolium. 




17- 


Ilea Firginica. 


44- 


Fiburnum Oxycoccus. 




18. 


Rosa moschata. 


4S- 


Fiburnum denlatum. 




19. 


Aralia Japonica. 


46. 


Fiburnum dilatatum. 




20. 


Fiburnum Lanlana. 


47- 


Fiburnum Oxycoccus. 




21. 


White birch. 


48. 


Fiburnum Nepalense. 




22. 


Single white altheas. 


49. 


Fiburnum nanum. 




23. 


Penzance sweetbriers. 


50. 


Spiraa Lindleyana. 




24. 


Philadelphus cordifoUus. 


51- 


Euonymus radicans variegalus. 




25- 


Eulalia Japonica gracillima. 


52. 


Cephalanthus occidentalis. 




26. 


Cydonia Japonica. 


53- 


Hydrangea radiata. 





52 



A PLEA FOR HARDY PLANTS 



DETAILED PLAN FOR FLOIfER GARDEN, continiieJ 



5+ 
55 
56, 

58, 

59- 
60. 
61. 
62. 
63. 
6+. 
65. 
66. 

67. 
68. 
69. 



70. 

7i. 
72. 

73' 
7+. 
75. 
76, 

77. 

78. 

79- 
80. 
81. 
82. 
83. 
8+. 
85. 
86. 
87. 
88. 
89. 
90. 

91- 
92. 

93- 
9+- 



Riibiis odorata. 

Foxgloves. 

Snowberries, red and white. 

Euonymus atropurpureus. 

Ilea Firgiiiica. 

Corchorus Japon'ua vanegata. 

Aster Noz'a-Anglio'. 

IFeigela rosea. 

'Berberis Thinihergii. 

Clematis paiiiculata. 

Spiraa tomenlosa. 

Erianthus Ravenna. 

Azalea Mollis, with Lilium lancifolium 

planted among them. 
Sambuciis pnbens. 
Hypericum Moserianum. 
Ghent azaleas, with Lilium canadense, 

Martagoti, '"Brocvnii, superbum and longi- 

florum planted among them. 
Mahonia aquifolium. 
Spiraa Thunbergii. 
Rosa rugosa alba. 
Rosa pomifera. 
Euonymus atropurpureus. 
Ceanothus Americanus. 
Rosa rubrifolia. ■ 
Spiraa salici folia. 
"Berberis Thunbergii. 
Assorted flowering almonds. 
Rosa rugosa rubra. 
Hybrid perpetual roses. 
Aquilegias, single long-spurred. 
Hardy pinks. 
Japanese iris. 

Single early tulips and annual pinks. 
Narcissus, Sir Watkin. 
Narcissus, Orange Phoenix. 
Narcissus, Ard Righ. 
Narcissus, Tricolor Horsfieldii. 
Narcissus odorus. 
Sweet peas. 
Lobelia cardinalis. 
Platycodon Mariesi. 
Tiger lilies. 



95. 'Diclamnus fraxinella. 

96. Tall phlox. 

97. Myosotis paluslris semperftorens 

98. Spiraa palmata. 

99. Japanese iris. 
100. German iris. 
loi. Tall phlox. 

102. Spiraa Filipendula. 

103. Sedum spectabile. 

104. Tritoma grandiflora. 

105. Funkia alba, and Clematis paniculata to 

climb tree. 

106. Tall English delphiniums. 

107. Narcissus, single jonquils. 

108. Narcissus, 'Bicolor Empress. 

109. Narcissus, Campernelles. 
no. Narcissus, Emperor. 

111. Narcissus, Golden Spur. 

112. Single early tulips and Phlox 'Drum- 

mondii. 

113. Florists' pinks, assorted. 

114. 'Boltonia latisquama. 
ii;. CEnotkera biennis. 

116. Iheris sempervirens. 

117. Single hollyhocks. 

118. Single hollyhocks. 

119. Pentstemon Torreyi. 

120. Anemone Japonica alba. 

121. Phlox subulata. 

122. Anemone Japonica rubra, 

123. Desmodium penduliflorum. 

124. Rudbeckia, Golden Glow. 

125. Rudbeckia speciosa. 

126. Cypripedium spectabile. 

127. Fiola cornuta. 

128. Lily-of-the-valley. 

129. Campanula Carpatica. 

130. Montbretia crocosmaflora. 

131. Chrysanthemum latifolium. 

132. Liatris pycnostachya. 

133. Viola pedata. 

134. 'Delphinium formosum. 

135. Gesneriana tulips and gladioli. 

136. Parrot tulips and calliopsis. 



54 



A PLEA FOR HARDY PLANTS 



DETAILED PLAN FOR FLOIFER GARDEN. 



ntinued 



137. 
138. 
139. 
I+O. 

I4.I. 

142. 

143- 
144. 

145. 
146. 

1+7- 
148. 
149. 
ISO. 
151. 
152. 
153- 

155- 
156. 



Sweet peas. 

Late tulips and Shirley poppies. 

Narcissus b'lflorus. 

Narcissus, Silver Phoenix. 

Narcissus, Van Sion. 

Narcissus Campernelles. 

Single jonquils. 

Gaillardia graiidiflora. 

Tall phlox. 

HeUopsis Pilcheriana. 

Single peonies. 

Heuchera sanguinea. 

Tritoma graiidiflora. 

Spiraa Aruiictis. 

Aquilegias, assorted single. 

Piilmoiiaria maciilata. 

Heinerocallis flava. 

Tall phlox. 

Heliopsis Pitcheriaiia. 

Heiiaiilhiis rigidiis. 



157. Double peonies. 

158. Helianthus la-lifloriis. 

159. Helianthus orgyalis. 

160. Funkia Sieboldiaiia. 

161. Oiioclea sensibilis. 

162. Slnithiopteris Germaiiica. 

163. Coreopsis laiiceolala. 

164. Phlox subulata alba. 

165. Rhododendron Evereslianum. 

166. Japanese maples. 

167. Rosa setigera, to climb old cherry tree. 

168. Lonicera Morrozci. 

169. Japan weeping cherry. 

170. Chinese rhubarb. 

171. Iron wire arch, with Rosa iriehuariana 

trained on it. 

172. Iron wire arch, with Crimson Rambler 

rose trained on it. 
A, A, A, A, A, A. Large old trees— cherry, 
elm, etc. 



PLJN FOR J CITY GARDEN 

This plan, made for Mr. J. R. Mellon, of Pittsburg, shows a very elaborate and com- 
prehensive garden, and one that proved very successful. The garden is entirely inclosed 
with stone walls and shrubbery. The garden-house is a reproduction of an Irish thatched 
cottage, and the garden in the rear of it is a miniature vegetable garden. 



EXPLANATION OF PLAN 



1, I, 1, I. Deciduous shrubs. 

2, 2, 2, 2. Herbaceous perennials. 

3, Rhododendrons and lilies. 

4, Ghent and Mollis azaleas, and lilies. 

5, 5. Single and double peonies. 

6, 7, 8. Specimen shrubs. 

9. Hybrid perpetual roses, and dafifodils. 

10. Specimen plants. 

11. Tree peonies. 

12. Pond for water lilies and nelumbiums. 

13. Rockery, waterfall, and brook. 



14. Inclosed space for soil manure and 

rubbish. 

15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20. Specimen shrubs and 

small trees. 
21, 22, 23, 24, 25. Specimen trees. 

In addition to planting shown on plan, 
climbing roses and other vines are freely 
used to cover walls, buildings, and arches 
over paths, and thousands of spring-flower- 
ing bulbs are planted among the hardy 
plants and in the margins of the shrubbery. 







>> 
G 



OS 

o 
ti, 

a. 




PLANTING PLAN FOR 
FIFTY-FOOT LOT 



-|ff- 



:^= 



jJ ^c. 



6, 

?■ 
8, 

9. 

10, 

1 1, 

12, 

13 

14 
15 

i6. 

17- 
i8. 
19. 
20. 
21. 
22. 

23- 
2+- 
25- 

26. 
27. 
28. 
29. 
30. 
31- 
32- 

33- 
34- 
35- 
36. 

37- 
38. 
39- 
4.0. 
41. 
42. 
43- 

44- 
45- 
+6. 

47- 
48. 
49. 



Kalmia latifolia or rhododendrons. 

2, 2. Ghent azaleas. 

Rhododendron or Japanese maple. 

Yucca fitamentosa. Spaces be- 
tween the yuccas to be covered 
with Cerastium lomeiilosiim. 

Nasturtiums and Bybloem tulips. 

Single hollyhocks. 

Lilies-of-the- valley. 

Spirrra venusla. 

IFoodsia obtusa. 

.•Inemone Robiiisoniaua. 

Aspleniuni Felix-firm'nia . 

Trillium grandiflorum. 

Adiaiitum pedalum and Cypripe- 
dium spectahile. 

Tiarella cordifolia. 

Anemone Japonica alba. 

Sweet peas. 

Hydrangea paniculata grandiflora. 

Rosa rugosa alba. 

Tiger lilies. 

Forsythia firidissiina. 

Aralia Japonica. 

Sedum spectabile. 

Heuchera sanguinea. 

Iris Sibirica. 

Narcissus Emperor, followed by 
golden moneywort. 

Linum flavum. 

I'iola cornuta. 

Phlox, Miss Lingard. 

Tall delphiniums. 

Oriental poppies. 

Foxgloves. 

Gaillardia grandiflora. 

Japanese iris. 

Tiger lilies. 

Spira-a fan Houttei. 

'Deutzia gracilis. 

Genliana acaulis. 

Funkia variegata. 

Andromeda Japonica. 

Lilium roseutn. 

Wahlenbergia grandiflora. 

Coreopsis lanceolala. 

Narcissus, Tricolor Horsfieldii, fol- 
lowed by Iheris sempervirens. 

Spiraa astilboides. 

Plalycodon Mariesi. 

'Dicentra spectabilis. 

Coriius Sptethi. 

Lilium elegans. 

Hybrid perpetual roses. 



Narcissus Van Sion, followed by Phlox 

siibulata. 
Liliiim superbum. 
Iceland poppies. 
Mixed aquilegias. 
Herbaceous peonies. 
Plumbago Larpenta. 

56. "Berberis Thiinbergii. 

57. Spira-a Tiumalda. 
Silvermaples on outer edge of sidewalk. 
Phlox subulala and Gesneriana tulips. 
Mixed tulips. 
Exochorda graiidlflora. 
Magnolia Soulangeana. 



50. 

51- 
52. 

53- 
5+- 

55- 



58 

59- 

60. 

61. 

62. 



A GOOD PLAN 



Mr. 
Pa., 



The accompanying plan made for 
Samuel W. Black, of Edgeworth, 
shows an unusual arrangement, but one 
that has proven quite satifactory and effec- 
tive. There are two houses on the grounds, 
one occupied by Mr. Black, the other by 
his sister, and while each house has a sepa- 
rate lawn the garden between the houses 
is used in common. This garden is so 
screened by hedges and shrubbery that 
eventually it cannot be seen from the street. 
The entrance road to Mr. Black's house is 
between two hemlock hedges, with strip of 
grass on either side. 

EXPLANATION OF PLAN 

I, I, 1. Shrubbery. 

2,3. Rhododendron and lilies. 

4. Bank covered with Rosa If'ichuraiana. 

and R. IVichuraiana hybrids. 

7, 8, 9, 10, II, 12, 13. Specimen 

trees and shrubs. 
Groups of upright honeysuckles. 
Tulip tree. 
Magnolia Soulangeana. 
Japanese maples. 
18. Euonymus radicans, to cover walls of 

house and terrace. 
Group of 'Berberis Thiinbergii. 
21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26. Specimen trees 

and shrubs. 
Aralia Japonica. 
Specimen rhododendrons. 
30, 31, 32. Specimen trees. 
Hemlock hedge, with border of hardy 

perennials in front. 
Spiraa Fan Houttei. 



5, 6, 



19. 
20, 

27. 
28. 
29, 
33- 




VStjfVt&rK 



y,>"= ^;^^Mii» M i u y «» j"»-i^*»<«»^^ 



S3 



34 



S8 



A PLEA FOR HARDY PLANTS 



PLAN FOR A FIFE-ACRE PLACE 



This plan is for a rectangular piece of ground of about five acres, with one street 
frontage. The conventional location of the house is as near the center of the grounds as 
it is possible to get it, but the present plan contemplates placing the house in the south- 
west corner of the grounds, about eighty feet from the street. The advantages of this loca- 
tion are the extremely convenient arrangement of the grounds it admits of, and far greater 
extent of unbroken lawn than if the house were placed anywhere near the center of the 
plat. The one objection that might be urged against this unusual location of the house is 
its nearness to the street; but this is overcome by the massed planting on the south line, 
which makes the nearest point on the street from which the house is visible over two hun- 
dred and fifty feet away. 

The treatment of the vegetable garden is quite important ; usually, even in quite ambi- 
tious places, it is left fully exposed to the house and grounds. While a growing crop of 
vegetables is not unsightly, it can hardly be claimed that it is a desirable landscape feature ; 
and the seasons and the necessary work of the garden keep it in a condition, for a large 
part of the year, that had better be kept out of sight. This design encloses the garden 
with a hemlock hedge, which I think is the most beautiful and satisfactory one that can be 
grown in this climate. California privet makes a very fine hedge and can be grown to a 
height of five or six feet in three seasons, and is almost evergreen. Unfortunately, this 
privet is not quite hardy in all localities. The design of the garden provides for vege- 
tables, fruit (such as dwarf pears, grapes, and dwarf apples) and hardy and annual flowers 
for cutting from early spring until November. In addition to the planting shown on the 
plan, a row of trees is to be planted along the west line of the place, and the porches are 
to be covered with vines. 

As I have said before, these plans can only serve to show some correct principles of 
arrangement and planting. The plan for any given place must be specially made for it, 
and all local conditions and limitations considered. 

EXPLANATION OF PLAN 

1. I, I. Massed planting of deciduous trees, ll. Magnolia Soulaiigeana. 

evergreens and shrubs, with groups of 12. Colorado blue spruce and weeping 

strong -growing herbaceous plants in hemlock. 

the margins. 13. Nordmann's fir, oriental spruce, and 

2. Group of trees. Abies pendula. 

3. Border for single hollyhocks. 14. Tulip tree. 

4. Border of hybrid perpetual roses. 15. Pin oak. 

5. 8. Border of hardy plants, lilies, and 16. Specimen rhododendrons. 

spring-flowering bulbs. 17. Weeping beech. 

6. Border of summer-flowering bulbs. 18. Rose -flowered Japanese weeping cherry 

7. Border of annuals. (high grafted). 

9. Japanese maples. 19. Abies concolor and Picea excelsa. 

10. Magnolia stellata and golden yew. 20. Magnolia conspicua. 







11 j*r 









';^st/ 




PL^A^ fOK A FIVE-ACRE PLACE 



6o 



A PLEA FOR HARDY PLANTS 



PLAN FOR A FirE-ACRE PLACE, coiilinued 



23. 



Fruit along inside paths of vegetable 
garden — grapes, dwarf pears, dwarf 
apples, etc. 

Saplings eight inches in diameter with 
branches cut back to five or six feet. 
These posts can be covered with wis- 
taria and similar vines. 

Summer house or pavilion. 



24. Shrubbery. 

25. Chinese cypress. 

26. Rhododendrons. 

27. Purple beech. 

Vegetable garden to be inclosed with a 
hemlock hedge, which is also to be planted 
along the west side leading from the street 
to house and stable. 






J SUBURBAN LOT 

The accompanying plan, made for Mr. J. E. Porter, of Sewickley, Pa., shows an uncon- 
ventional treatment of a corner lot that few people would have the courage to carry out. 
Yet it has many attractions and advantages for the owners and their friends. The objection 
is likely to be urged that the public cannot see the garden from the street ; but neither is 
the interior of the house to be seen from the highway, and privacy in the garden is certainly 
as desirable as it is in the library or dining-room, and all the public that the owner is 
interested in will be invited to enjoy his garden as well as the hospitality of his house. 
The plea that it is selfish to exclude the public from one's grounds is not reasonable. I 
never knew of anybody being kept out of a garden who cared enough about it to ask to 
see it, and the charm and beauty of a garden is greatly enhanced by shutting out of 
view the dirt and ugliness of the street. 

EXPLANATION OF PLAN 

7 



1. Masses of shrubs, evergreen and decidu- 

ous small trees, with a few groups of 
bold herbaceous plants. 

2. Crab apple. 

3. Hardy perennials. 

4. Magnolia compicua. 

5. Japanese maples. 

6. Rhododendrons, with Lilium auratum 

planted among them. 

7. Japanese snowball. 

8. Paulownia imperialis, to be cut to the 

ground every spring. 

9. Pin oak. 

10. Pyrus Toringo. 

11. Rhododendron Everestianum. 

12. Lonicera bella. 

13. Group of Aralia Japoiika. 

14. Old spreading Seckle pear. 

15. 16. Tulip tree. 



White birch. 

18. Low-spreading old Apple tree. 

19. White birch. 

20. Scarlet oak. 

21. 22, 23, 24. Cedar or locust saplings, to be 

covered with vines, for clothes-line posts. 

25. Arched entrance, to be covered with Rosa 

Jl'ichuraiaiia. 

26. Border of hybrid perpetual roses. 

27. Scarlet maple. 

28. California privet hedge. 

29. Pin oaks, planted forty feet apart be- 

tween curb and sidewalk. 
In addition to planting shown on plan, the 
following vines are to be planted to shade 
porch: Hall's honeysuckles, Crimson Ram- 
bler roses, Chinese wistaria and Clematis 
paniculala. Jmpelopsis Roylei is to be planted 
to cover brick walls of house. 



-^ 



m: 




PLAN FOR A SUBURBAN LOT 



62 A PLEA FOR HARDY PLANTS 

AN IDEAL SUBURBAN ACRE 

The unusual location of the house in the accompanying plan probably makes it imprac- 
ticable for a majority of suburban acres, but it serves to show some correct principles of 
arrangement and planting, and that is about all any plan can show, except for the special 
grounds for which it is designed ; for good plans cannot be had ready-made but must be 
made to order, and all local conditions and limitations considered. The many desirable 
features of the plan I think are evident. By locating the house close to the northern 
boundary of the lot, a southeast corner one, the greatest possible unbroken expanse of lawn 
is obtained, and all principal rooms of the house have a southern and eastern exposure. 
The massed planting on the western and northern boundaries gives protection to house 
and grounds from wintry winds, affords grateful shelter for the choicer shrubs and plants, 
and secures privacy for the rear of the house, drying ground and stable. The driveway — 
and driveways are now usually made so as to serve the double purpose of driving and 
walking — gives entrance from one street and the curved path from the other. This path, 
winding in among the shrubbery, affords opportunity for some very effective planting. Massed 
planting of shrubs, while the very best arrangement for them, gives many chances for the 
planting of groups of herbaceous plants, narcissi, and lilies in the margins, and no better 
setting can be had for the splendid new flowering cannas. The grounds are to be inclosed 
with a fence, low wall, or hedge, — preferably a hedge if properly planted and cared for, — and 
for grounds of this size no more satisfactory hedge can be planted than California privet 
{Ligustrum ovaUfolium) . It is quick-growing and has a rich, lustrous green foliage, and it 
is almost evergreen. The plan ignores bedding plants, with the exception of the beds of 
cannas and carpet-border in front of the porte-cochere, a very appropriate place for a bit of 
formal gardening; but where the annual expense of bedding is objectionable, the cannas 
could be changed for tall hardy grasses and the carpet-border for one of tulips carpeted 
with Phlox siibulata, or it might be omitted altogether. Nine-tenths of the bedding done 
detracts from, rather than adds to, the grounds it is intended to beautify, and is an annual 
waste of money, which, if spent intelligently in carrying out a good design, would in time 
make a sylvan paradise of many a suburban home. 

EXPLANATION OF PLAN 

1,1,1. Shrubs, with hardy plants and spring- 8. Purple beech. 

flowering bulbs planted in margin. g. Evergreens and birches. 

2, 2. Rhododendrons, kalmias, small ever- lo, lo, 10, lo. Scarlet maples; can be used 

greens and lilies. for clothes-line when large enough. 

3. Border for herbaceous plants and spring- 11. Hemlock spruce. 

flowering bulbs, or could be used for 12. Weeping dogwood, 

hybrid perpetual roses. 13. Wier's maple. 

4-. Untrimmed hedge of hemlock spruce. 14. Pin oak. 

5. Untrimmed hedge of lilacs. 15. Tulip tree. 

6. 6, 6, 6. Posts covered with vines for 16. Magnolias. 

clothes-line. 17. Chinese cypress. 

7. Bed of new flowering cannas and carpet- 18. Rose-flowered Japanese weeping cherry. 

border of alternantheras, echeverias, etc. 19. Magnolia stellala. 




AN IDEAL SUBURBAN ACRE 



64 



A PLEA FOR HARDY PLANTS 



20. Cut-leaved birch. 

21. Fern-leaved beech. 

22. Japan maples. 

23. Funkia Sieboldiana. 

24. Eulalia gracillima. 

25. Weigela Candida. 

26. Evergreens, small trees and shrubs. 



AN IDEAL SUBURBAN ACRE, conlinued 

27. Maples, pin oaks or tulip trees. 

In addition to planting shown on plan, 
Japanese honeysuckles, Clematis paniculata, 
and Clematis Henryi are to be trained on the 
porch, and a Chinese wistaria is to be car- 
ried up the east end of the house, trained 
along the eaves. 



TWO SMALL PLACES TREATED AS ONE 

It is now quite common in suburban neighborhoods to do away with all fences and 
make one continuous lawn in front of the houses of an entire block. I am opposed to this, 
except for small lots of less than one hundred feet frontage. The inclosure need not be a 
fence or a wall ; much better effect can be obtained by a hedge. The continuous lawn plan 
does not permit grounds to have individual character or privacy, and I think privacy is as 
desirable on a lawn as it is in the living-rooms of the house. Sometimes, however, the 
grounds of two or three small places may be combined and treated as one place, and fine 
landscape effects obtained which would not be possible with the separate places. The 
accompanying plan, made for Mr. W. J. Buttfield, of Plainfield, N. J., illustrates this very well. 



EXPLANATION 

1. Edge of woods back of grounds. 

2. 33. Rows of old Norway spruce, twenty 

feet high, which were allowed to re- 
main, as they protected the grounds 
on the north and west, but the regu- 19 
larity of their outline was broken by 20 
additional planting. 

3. Purple beech. 

4. Border of hybrid perpetual roses, herba- 

ceous plants and spring-flowering bulbs. 

5. Group of Japanese maples, retinisporas, 

and specimen shrubs, ground carpeted 
with Hall's and golden honeysuckles. 

6. Magnolia conspiciia. 

7. Sciadopitys verticillata. 

8. Magnolia parviflora. 

9. Shrubs. 

10. Abies concolor. 

1 1. Nordmann's fir. 

12. Colorado blue spruce. 

13. European beech. 
14.. Massed planting of shrubs, evergreen 

and deciduous. 



OF PLAN 

Cut-leaved birch. 

Paulozvnia imperialis. 

Abies concolor. 

Mugho pine. 

Nordmann's fir. 

Massed planting of deciduous and ever- 
green shrubbery. 

Fern-leaved beech. 

Magnolia Lennei. 

Japanese snowball. 

Specimen rhododendron. 

Pieea alba carulea. 

White-leaved weeping linden. 

Magnolia sicllata. 
, Cedrus Atlantica glaiica. 
. Weeping hemlock. 

Specimen rhododendron. 
. Magnolia Soulaugeana. 

Group of white birch. 
. Philadelphus and Weigela Candida. 

Pin oak. 
. Tulip tree. 




=1 



66 A PLEA FOR HARDY PLANTS 

PLAN FOR A LARGE CITY PLACE 

The accompanying plan, designed by Mr. Caparn, I think an especially good one — very 
original and artistic — and, properly carried out, would make a very charming garden. It is 
designed for a city home, rather than a country one, where it is desirable to secure privacy 
from numerous pedestrians and to conceal from view surrounding streets and buildings. 
Some would object to the arrangement shown on account of its exclusiveness, but after 
the making of many gardens I am still of the opinion that privacy is one of their best quali- 
ties. Mr. Caparn explains his plan as follows : 

" This plan is for a place of average shape and about two and a half acres in area. 
The unusual location of house and lines of walk will show that economy of space is quite 
consistent with convenience and breadth of effect. Picturesqueness is obtained by arrange- 
ment of planting, not by meandering of sinuous ribbons of gravel. By placing the house in 
the corner the greatest possible extent of unbroken lawn space is secured, while the porch 
fronting the lawn is as private as it could be on a place of this size. The lawn runs up 
to the house unimpaired by any stripes of arid pavement, and the lines of the house are 
relieved only by the creepers covering it (Boston ivy on the walls and clematises, wistarias 
and Hall's Honeysuckles on the porches) and the tall conifers to the south of the house. 

"This kind of design is suited only to land level, or approximately so, but within 
those lines could be easily adapted to many places. An ideal contour map would show the 
lawn gently sloping from all sides to the middle, with the walks on level ground. Along 
the front boundary runs a wall or iron fence ; the entrance is through iron gates into a court 
large enough to admit of a carriage being turned. There is a smaller gate, admitting pedes- 
trians to a paved walk leading to the front and back of the house. The carpet-bedding on 
each side of the entrance court is justified by the formal lines of building and macadam 
which it supplements. The shrubbery behind it sets it off and separates it from the main 
part of the grounds. The drying ground is inclosed on three sides by a hedge or vine- 
covered trellis. The stable is placed at the corner of the vegetable garden and entered 
from a side street, thus being kept entirely away from the house ; but if the place were not 
on a corner the stable could be placed opposite the drying ground and the paved walk 
widened to allow the passage of vehicles. 

"The interest and value of the vegetable garden could be added to by borders of 
annuals, herbaceous and tender plants for cut-flowers, grape-vines, and dwarf fruits. It is 
inclosed by a wall. A hedge would be a good protection, would look better and be far 
cheaper, but would take several years to become an effective defense. If the walks are 
made wide enough to admit of a horse and cart being used in the garden, six and one-half 
feet will be wide enough for them, and the inner corners should be rounded a little to 
allow for turning ; in this way manure may be carried to all parts of the garden with great 
convenience. If desired, breaks could be left in the shrubbery to admit views from the 
street without injury to the general design." 

EXPLANATION OF PLAN 

1. Japan maples. 4. Magnolia parviflora. 

2. Reliiiispora obtusa. 5, 5. Shrubbery, with small trees and groups 

3. Yulan magnolia. of large herbaceous plants in margins. 

L.oFC. 



V E G ^ r A s 



C A .'^ D £ A/ 




i — I .■ .....e,'ij*j,£^if.j:<£r^ 



PLAN FOR A LARGE CITY PLACE 



68 



A PLEA FOR HARDY PLANTS 



6. Oriental spruce. 

7. RoUison's arborvitss, or golden retinis 

poras. 

8. Nordmann's fir. 

9. Scarlet maple. 

10. Andromeda arhorea. 



PLAN FOR LARGE CITY PLACE, continued 
II. Balsam fir. 



12. Norway spruce. 

13. Colorado blue spruce. 

14. Purple beech. 

15. Irish juniper and beds of herbaceous plants. 

16. Vine-covered summer house. 



PLAN FOR GROUNDS OF TJFENTY ACRES 

The accompanying plan is that of the grounds of Mr. Henry S. Turner, at Elash, 111. 
These grounds are beautifully situated on a bluff five hundred feet above the Mississippi 
river, and about thirty miles from St. Louis. The grounds are comparatively level except 
for a steep declivity on the southern boundary, commencing on a line a few feet south of 
the house, and a valley commencing at path a, and extending beyond the northwestern 
boundary of the grounds. This valley is wooded north of the carriage drive which crosses it 
from b to c. The grounds slope gently to this valley from path d, and from the road 
from e to /. 

The steep declivity referred to above extends about three hundred feet south of the 
house to a sheer bluff above the river. The house is located to get the full benefit of the 
magnificent river and prairie \iew, which is only limited by the power of the eye. The 
pond was a natural one, the outlines of which have been changed. This pond was retained 
to provide a place to grow aquatics and bog plants. 

The grounds are very elaborately planted with a large variety of trees, shrubs and her- 
baceous plants, and promise to become one of the most interesting and beautiful country 
places in the west. In addition to the ground shown by the plan, Mr. Turner owns 
several hundred acres adjoining, which is devoted to a stock-farm. 



EXPLANATION 

1, I, I. Woods. 10. 

2. Steep declivity, planted principally with 

evergreens, but some open spaces left, 
in which wild roses and other native 
plants are naturalized. 

3> 3> 3> 3i 3' 3' 3- Trees and shrubs. 11. 

33, 3a. Shrubs. 12. 

4. Trees, principally deciduous, but with a 13. 

few groups of evergreens. 14. 

5. 5. Rhododendrons and coniferous ever- 15. 

greens. 16. 

6. Large evergreens. 17. 

7. Hemlock spruce. 

8. White birch and hemlock spruce. 18. 

9. Bed of Arundo 'Donax and Eulalia gra- 19. 

cillima. 20. 



OF PLAN 

. Path from house to farm, with flower 
border on both sides, planted with 
hybrid perpetual roses, herbaceous 
plants, spring-flowering bulbs, sum- 
mer-blooming bulbs, and annuals. 
. Summer house. 
. Pump-house. 
. Ice-house. 
. Office. 
. Greenhouse. 
Lodge. 
Pond for aquatics, with groups of shrubs 

and trees planted around it. 
California privet hedge. 
Lombardy poplars. 
Grape-arbor. 



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/'L.t^A^ FOR GROUNDS OF TIVENTY ACRES 



70 



A PLEA FOR HARDY PLANTS 



PLAN FOR GROUNDS OF SIX ACRES 

The accompanying plan was made for the grounds of John Markle, Esq., Jeddo, Pa. 
As these grounds were surrounded by the various buildings of a large colliery, the first 
consideration was to make the grounds as private as possible and shut out the unsightly 
objects that were in view in every direction ; although I hold that privacy is always as 
desirable on the lawn and in the garden as it is in the living-rooms of the house, and 
secure for the family and its friends much freer and greater enjoyment than when the 
grounds are fully exposed to the highway. In the present instance privacy was secured by 
massed planting of shrubs and by a hemlock hedge completely surrounding the grounds. 

The landscape gardener often finds that his lawns are spoiled, in spite of his advice, 
by being cut up for flower beds by some ambitious gardener anxious to show his skill in 
making colored lines of coleus, alternantheras, and other tender plants. Such a contin- 
gency is provided for in this plan by making an inclosed formal garden for bedding plants 
in summer and Dutch bulbs in spring, and this garden in no way spoils the repose of the 
lawns. It is inclosed by a hedge of Siberian arborvits and massed planting of shrub- 
bery, and must be visited to be seen. 



z. 

3. 
4- 
5- 
6. 

7- 
8. 

9- 

10. 

1 1. 



13- 
U. 

i6. 

17- 
iS. 
19. 
20, 
21, 



I, I, I, I, I. Massed planting of decidu- 
ous and evergreen shrubs. 

Specimen shrubs. 

English beech. 

White-leaved linden. 

Nordmann's fir. 

Cut-Leaved Japan maple. 

Group of Aralia Japonica. 

Scarlet maple. 

Eulalia gracillima and yuccas. 

Group of small deciduous trees. 

Nordmann's fir and Colorado blue 
spruce. 

Specimen shrubs, evergreens, and Chinese 
magnolias. 

Deciduous trees and evergreens. 

Group of Chinese and Japanese mag- 
nolias. 

Scarlet oak. 

Scarlet oak, weeping cypress, and weep- 
ing Norway spruce. 

Sugar maple. 

Tulip tree. 

Fern-leaved beech. 

zo. Pin oaks. 

Evergreens and white birch. 



EXPLANATION OF PLAN 

22. Evergreens, rhododendrons, and Kalmia 
lalifolia. 

23. Formal garden for bedding plants and 
spring-flowering bulbs. 

24. American beech, liquidambar, and tulip 
tree. 

25. Scarlet maple. 

26. Group of Japanese crab apples. 

27. VVier's maple, pin oak, English beech, 
black walnut, and white oak. 

28. Tulip tree, Magnolia macrophylla and 
scarlet maple. 

2g. Group of deciduous trees. 

30. Mass of wild crab apples. 

31. American elm. 

32. White, scarlet, and pin oaks. 

33. .Summer house. 

34. Rockery on both sides of path leading 
into woods. 

35. Group of evergreens. 

36. Lombardy poplars. 

37. Border of annuals. 

38. 39. Border for hardy perennials. 

40. Border of hybrid perpetual roses. 

41. Bed oiArundo DoHa.vand Eulalia gracillima. 
i\.i. Lilacs, assorted. 




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72 



A PLEA FOR HARDY PLANTS 



PLAN FOR GLEN COVE RAILROAD STATION 

Some of the railroads, notably the Pennsylvania and one or two of the New England 
companies, have been devoting considerable attention, of late years, to gardening along their 
lines. Station-grounds have been beautified, and the steep banks made by grading cuts 
have been planted with vines and shrubs. This work is not costly, and is a distinct gain 
to the companies by making their roads more attractive to travelers and the seekers of 
suburban homes, and in the case of steep banks saves them from loss and trouble by pre- 
venting the slipping of loose surface soil, which is very apt to happen after heavy rains, or 
when the frost comes out of the ground in the spring on unplanted banks. 

The present plan was made for the station-grounds at Glen Cove, Long Island, near 
which station are the country homes of many wealthy New York people. These grounds 
are much larger than those usually surrounding suburban stations ; but I believe the resi- 
dents joined the railroad company in buying and improving the grounds, and the result is 
a very attractive little park that is a pleasure and credit to all concerned. 

The grounds have been laid out and planted as attractively as possible, but the prac- 
tical purposes of the station have not been overlooked, and ample space has been left for 
standing room for carriages at the platforms. 

The planting list includes many beautiful trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants, but all 
of easy culture, — things requiring care, of course, but not the care of an expert. It may be 
interesting to know that the famous " Dosoris " is near this station, and to this Glen Cove 
owes much of its progressive spirit. 



EXPLANATION OF PLAN 



1. 


Magnolia macrophylla. 




2. 


Scarlet oak. 




3- 


Magnolia compicua. 




4- 


Nordmann's fir. 




5- 


Sugar maple. 




6. 


Abies concolor. 




7- 


Wier's maple. 




8. 


Silver maple. 




9- 


Picea polila. 




lO. 


White-leaved weeping 1 


linden 


1 1. 


Colorado blue spruce. 




12. 


Groups of white birch. 




13- 


Cut-leaved birch. 




14. 


Magnolia conspicua. 




IS- 


Magnolia parviflora. 




16. 


Magnolia Soulangeana. 




17- 


Tulip tree. 




18. 


Oriental spruce. 




19. 


Douglas' spruce. 




20. 


Abies Cephalonica. 




21. 


American elm. 





22. Oriental sycamore. 

23. Weeping rose-flowered Japan cherry. 

24. American elm. 

25. Salix pentandra. 

26. Group of hemlock spruce. 

27. White-leaved linden. 

28. Mains Halliana. 
29. Massed planting of trees and shrubs. 
Pin oaks planted fifty feet apart, with 

Carolina poplars planted alternately. 

The poplars, which are of extremely 

rapid growth, are to be cut out as soon 

as the pin oaks are of an effective size. 

3 1 . White ash planted fifty feet apart and 

Carolina poplars planted alternately, 

to be treated as noted above. 

In addition to the above a California 

privet hedge is planted along both sides of 

the main entrance driveway and along one 

side of the driveway paralleling the railroad 

track. 



29, 
30. 




PLAN FOR GLEN COVE RAILROAD STATION 




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1. 






PLJN FOR SUBURBAN LOT 75x160 FEET 

It is usually thought the small suburban lot is unworthy of the landscape gardener's 
skill; but I think the accompanying plan, which is for a lot 75 x 160 feet, or about one- 
fourth of an acre of ground, proves the contrary. This plan gives what is not always 
found in larger places — small but good lawn effects, a considerable variety of choice plants 
and shrubs, changing effects from spring until fall, and ooitdoor privacy for the family and 
its friends. 

The present plan ignores bedding plants, with the exception of the French cannas 
against the front porch, and I am inclined to the opinion that Enlalia gracillima (that lovely 
tall Japanese plumed grass,) with a »^border of Siebold's funkia, would be better and would 
make the entire planting of a permanent character. The new French cannas, such as Mme. 
Crozy and Alphonse Bouvier, are, however, despite their one fault of fading in hot sun- 
shine, fine enough for any grounds, and their splendid coloring in September and October- 
reconciles us to their summer weakness. A disagreeable feature of almost every small place 
is the use of four ugly turned posts for the clothes-line. These can be avoided by using 
saplings of about eight inches in diameter, cut to a proper length, and the branches short- 
ened to about five or six feet. These can be covered with such vines as trumpet creeper, 
Chinese wistaria, or Hall's honeysuckle, and so arranged as to form part of the garden 
design. 

EXPLANATION 



1. California privet hedge. 5. 

2. Border of hybrid perpetual roses and hardy 6. 

herbaceous plants. 7. 

3. Scarlet maple. 

4. Shrubbery, with groups of herbaceous 8. 

plants in margins. 



OF PLAN 

White birch. 

Single hollyhocks. 

Rhododendrons, with Lilium auralum 

planted among them. 
New French cannas, or Eulalia gracillima 

and Funkia Sieboldiana. 



PLAN FOR SUBURBAN LOT, continued 

g. Retinispora plumosa atirea and J iidromeda floribtiiida. 
Retinispora is to be kept sheared to not over 
three and a half feet high, 
lo. Japan maples. 
Magnolia stellata. 
Magnolia conspicua. 

Posts covered with vines for clothes-line. 
Pavilion. 

Low stone wall, partly covered with vines (tropae- 
olums) . 
In addition to planting shown in plan, three pin oaks 
are to be planted between the side-walk and curb. 



II. 

12. 

13- 
14- 
15- 



PLAN FOR HARDY 
BORDERS 



PLANT 



The accompanying plan is designed to be used on 
both sides of a walk. These borders would be equally 
suitable for placing in front of a wall or hedge. The 
walk, instead of being gravel, might be one of grass, 
making the entire space between the borders grass, 
and this would be much more effective. 

As hardy borders are intended to be permanent, 
the initial preparation of the soil should be liberal. 
The border should be dug out to the depth of two 
feet, preferably two and one-half feet, and filled with 
all good surface soil mixed with one-fourth its bulk 
of thoroughly rotted stable manure. After planting, 
the border should be mulched with two inches, of 
stable manure late every fall, care being taken that 
the tops of no evergreen plants are covered, as it 
would cause them to rot. 

Borders planted as shown in plan will give a suc- 
cession of bloom from early spring until fall, but the 
hardy plants and bulbs should be supplemented by 
plantings of annuals, such as Shirley poppies. Phlox 
T)rummondii, nasturtiums, sweet alyssum, and asters, 
and the narrow strip for bulbs in front of the bor- 
ders might be planted entirely with forget-me-not, 
which would not interfere at all with the growth or 
bloom of the bulbs. 



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76 



A PLEA FOR HARDY PLANTS 



PLAN FOR SMALL SUBURBAN GROUNDS 

These grounds are, for the greater part, practically 
level, but have an elevation of about forty feet above 
the street they front on; the front of the grounds 
being a steep embankment covered with a natural 
growth of trees and shrubs. The road shown at the 
side of the grounds is a right of way which gives en- 
trance to three or four contiguous places. 

Privacy is secured for the front lawn by the topog- 
raphy of the ground, by the mass of shrubs and by 
hedges. This lawn is two feet higher than the level 
of the carriage road, and entrance is gained to it by 
steps through the hedge, which extends from side of 
house to boundary of grounds. Designed for F. H. 
Russell, Esq., Edgeworth, Pa. 

These grounds, although only half an acre in 
extent, have proven most successful, due as much to 
the enthusiasm of the owner as to a good plan faith- 
fully carried out. Many large places are less effective 
and comprehensive. A very successful flower and 
vegetable garden is a feature, and some fruit is grown. 
The shrubberies contain a good assortment of varie- 
ties, and the little lawn is quite perfect. The natural 
topography of the grounds, which has been undis- 
turbed, adds greatly to their beauty. 

EXPLANATION OF PLAN 

1, I, I, I. Massed planting of shrubs. 

2, 2. Hardy perennial plants. 

3. Arundo 'Donax and EulaVta gracillima. 

4. Vines and shrubs to cover steep bank. 

5. Natural growth on steep embankment. 

6, 6. California privet hedge. 

7. California privet hedge. 

8, 9, 10, II, 12, 15. Fruit trees. 
13, 13. Grapes on trellis. 
17, 18, 19, 20, 21. Posts for clothes-line. 

22. Tulip tree. 

23. Pin oak. 

24. Purple beech. 

25. English beech. 

26. Scarlet oak. 

27. Magnolia Soulangeana. 
2S. Japanese snowball. 




OCT 1 



1^02 



OCT 15 1902 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

DDOmmSDST ^ 



